Purdue Poultry Chair to Carry Farm Family Name

(Image courtesy of Maple Leaf Farms.)

The first-ever endowed chair in poultry science at Purdue University will be named in honor of a well-known northern Indiana agricultural family. A $1 million gift, which will be boosted through the College of Agriculture Endowed Chair Challenge Matching Gift Program, will create the Terry and Sandra Tucker Chair in Poultry Science in the Department of Animal Sciences.

Terry, a Purdue graduate, is chief executive officer and board chair of Milford-based Maple Leaf Farms. Sandra, also a Purdue grad is the daughter of Maple Leaf Farms founder Donald Wentzel. Maple Leaf Farms is one of North America’s leading duck producers, producing more than 10 million ducks each year and selling duck and chicken products in every state and 40 export regions.

Agriculture Dean Karen Plaut says "through the generosity of Terry and Sandra, we will be able to recruit and retain a faculty member to play a critical role in conducting research and extension that is beneficial to consumers and the duck and broader poultry industry while educating the next generation of professionals."

The endowed chair’s focus will involve issues including physiology, immunology, disease and well-being. You can connect to more about its establishment by clicking here.